The RSPCA has revealed that animal abandonments have hiked to a three-year high in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

New statistics show an alarming trend in the midst of the ongoing cost of living crisis, with a shocking 23 per cent rise in combined incidents in the two counties.

So far this year, until the end of October, the charity received 17,838 reports across England and Wales.

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If the trend continues, this could reach 21,417 reports by 2023.

Compared with the total of 16,118 reports in 2020, this means the RSPCA could see a distressing 32.9% rise.

This year's count is also higher than the total numbers in 2021 (17,179) and 2022 (19,645).

Herefordshire and Worcestershire alone may account for 262 reports this year, with the majority of these, 213, believed to be from Worcestershire, with the remaining 49 from Herefordshire.

Dermot Murphy, head of the RSPCA frontline rescue teams said: "The combined effects of the pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis has created a perfect storm - and means we expect more animals than ever will need our help this year."

He further highlighted growing concerns for the winter months, saying: "Abandonments have soared and many rescue centres are full to bursting, so we are facing an unprecedented winter crisis.

"Our rescue teams are set to be busier than ever this Christmas."

The charity, working for nearly 200 years to rescue and care for animals, urged supporters to join them in the 'Christmas Rescue' to help provide for many abandoned, cold, and hungry animals.

Mr Murphy added: "The support of the public helps neglected and abandoned animals in so many ways - from buying soft, warm bedding and nourishing food for an animal who’s desperately cold and hungry, to funding vital vet care for an animal who is suffering and in pain."